MANILA, Philippines — Residents in Tumana area, a low-lying portion of Bagong Silangan in Quezon City, are among the very first to evacuate during the onset of a tropical cyclone.
Around 300 families reside in the area.
As Typhoon Ambo drenches Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the Quezon City local government has prepared evacuation centers where affected residents may temporarily stay.
One of them is a covered court in Sitio Kumunoy in Bagong Silangan where 10 modular tents are installed.
Each tent may accomodate up to 5 family members.
According to some residents, the worst flood that they have experienced was during the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy.
“Nag-e-evacutate kami agad. Iyong mga gamit namin inilalagay namin sa [third floor] kasi tumataas ang tubig, (We evacuate immediately. We placed our belongings on the third floor because the floodwater was rising),” said Josephine Reynon, a resident in Tumana area,
Chesnaroys dela Torre said they have learned their lesson so they do not think twice anymore when going to evacuation centers.
“Nag-iingat na rin po kmi. Parang nadadala na kami kaya tingin-tingin kami na kapag tatlong araw na yung ulan, tumataas na po kami (We are cautious now. We have learned from the past so we now observe: if it’s three straight days of rain, we evacuate),” Dela Torre said.
Chesnaroys said they have small bancas on standby if needed.
QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Chief Myke Marasigan expressed concern over the possible surge of floodwater coming from the Sierra Madre mountain range that is part of Typhoon Ambo’s track.
“Kahit walang ulan dito kapag bumaba na ang tubig na binuhos sa upstream ay dadaan dito sa San Mateo River na nagdudulot ng pagbaha dito sa Bagong Silangan (Even without rains, whenever upstream water runs down to San Mateo River, it causes flood in Bagong Silangan), ” Marasigan said.
Nevertheless, Marasigan said they will ensure that residents will be placed on safer grounds.
Likewise, he stressed that in view of the current pandemic on coronavirus disease (COVID-19), certain protocols are in place to make sure that none of the evacuees is a carrier of novel coronavirus.
For one, strict social distancing measures will be observed to prevent potential spread of diseases especially COVID-19.
The QCDRRMO meanwhile is also monitoring situations in Barangays Roxas, Tatalon, Sto. Domingo, Apolonio Samson and Araneta Avenue for possible flooding in view of the heavy downpour brought about by Typhoon Ambo. MNP (with reports from Rey Pelayo)
The post Brgy. Bagong Silangan in QC prepares evacuation center in view of Typhoon Ambo appeared first on UNTV News.